Leaders of Ogoni ethnic nationality in Rivers State are in deep quarrel over the move for the resumption of oil exploration in the area. While some of the chiefs insist that it was time for oil exploration to resume in order to reposition the economy of the area, some others maintain that it was not yet time for oil business to return in the area, noting that Ogoni is undergoing clean up and still in pain of tragedy of decades of oil deals in the area. It will be recalled that some leaders of Ogoni extraction, led by His Royal Majesty, King Samuel Nnee, Paramount Ruler of Kpite Tai LGA, who represented the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers of Ogoni, in company of the Minster of Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, had during a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, requested the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoni.
But, the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, had rejected the move for the Federal Government to resume oil exploration in Ogoniland, stating that the people are still reeling in the pain inflicted on them by oil business. The President, of MOSOP, Engr Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, noted that the people were not ready for resumption of oil activities in their area, adding that they are only focused on the remediation of the already destroyed environment of the people. However, the Concerned Ogoni Stakeholders, COS, in Port Harcourt, yesterday, described visit of Ogoni leaders to president Bola Tinubu as critical and in the best interest of Ogoni people, noting that the visit marked the beginning of the end of the Ogoni clamour for rescue and solace. The leader of COS, Dr. Terry Mission Bagia, Esq., noted that the President is happy with the Ogoni people on their quest to allow resumption of oil exploration after many years, adding that the outcome of visit has brought hope to the people of Ogoni.
Bagia, a Petroleum Law Expert, stated that Ogoni people are happy with the plans to resume oil business, noting that the people have lived out any notable source of livelihood for decades. He said “The outcome of this historic visit has brought hope to the people of Ogoni. The grassroots is agog with joy and celebration that the time of the singing of the birds is around the corner. Ogoni people have experienced a long night of pains, pangs and agony in the face of 35 years of economic rape by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and its collaborators in addition to another 31 years of economic stagnation marked by untold penury, excruciating hunger and acute despondency. The empathy demonstrated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR towards the Ogoni people has no hiding place. It is loud and clear that Mr. President is fully committed to bringing an end to the Ogoni plight. It beats our wildest imagination that Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu has chosen to lead a gang of disorderly and self-centered few who are now causing distractions and disruptions within our polity.
Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu is not the President of MOSOP. He is hallucinating. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu is not representing himself well. In one breath, Wai-Ogosu was one of the pioneers of “Ogoni Economic Rebirth Project” and addressed Ogoni people on the 30th Day of December, 2023 enjoining them to embrace the inter-generational vision. In another breath, the same Wai-Ogosu is now advocating for continuous economic stagnation in Ogoniland. He doesn’t deserve any attention at all.”
